Home Search My Account You have 0 items in your cart. View Cart Go to Checkout
 
 

The issues below are all in preparation:

(PRE-ORDER) 61 - ROME, IInc.
(Upcoming) 62 - Strike of the Heron
(Upcoming) 63 - Trying Men's Souls

(Upcoming) 2023 Annual - La Bataille de Kulm

 I want to (login required):
   Change My Address
   Check My Subscription Status
   Pre-Order the Next Issue
   Buy a Back Issue
   Vote For a Game Idea

 I want to (no login required):
   Get the Latest Addenda
   Join Our Mailing List
   Set Up an Account
   See What's Coming
   See All Our Products
   Check for Special Offers
   Re-read any ATO Newsgram
   See the ATO Article/Game index
   Read the Latest ATO News

Read Against the Odds

Against the Odds magazine investigates military history from a broad perspective. The economic, political, religious and social aspects of warfare are examined in concert with events on the battlefield.

Each issue of ATO features:

Informative and insightful articles showcasing the history behind events, plus regular columns by noted game designers providing insight on the latest trends and events.

A challenging, fun wargame that drops the players into truly desperate situations but gives them multiple options to alter history.

Professionally printed graphics, complete with large playing map and 200 to 360 die cut playing pieces.

And much more! Look for Against the Odds to cover simulation design issues, order of battle research, rule writing, play testing and graphic techniques as it evolves. Get yourself truly "connected" with games and gaming by reading Against the Odds!

Click here to see our upcoming issues

As an Amazon Associate, this firm earns from qualifying purchases.

© 2024 LPS Inc.

All | Upcoming Issues | Pre-Order | Back Issue List | The Annuals | Campaign Studies | Special Offers | Way of War Packs | Black Swans | Accessories | Spare Parts | Endangered Species | Sold Out | Kickstarters

You have 0 items in your cart. View Cart Go to Checkout

 

2012 Annual - Forlorn Hopes

World War Two history has a pattern in both the European and Pacific Theaters. Constant Axis expansion, followed by steady Axis contraction, as the Allies recapture lost territory. In Europe, it is hard to pinpoint the transition point (a good barroom discussion any time!). In the Pacific, it is a little easier to focus precisely at the campaign where the Japanese tide of conquest began to ebb-- their unsuccessful campaign to take Port Moresby, the "step too far."

What then represents the "high tide" of the Japanese Empire? That would be their successful conquest of the Dutch East Indies, one of their most strategically vital targets for the oil and rubber it could provide. A broad look at the record suggest the Japanese mostly had things their own way against the hasty "ABDA" alliance (American, British, Dutch, Australian), with its varied mix of modern and obsolete weapons and widely differing priorities. But a closer look shows that this was a much closer campaign, stretching the Japanese to complete. With a few breaks, the Allies might have held on.

Can you do better? Find out for yourself.

Forlorn Hopes covers the entire two-month campaign for the region, using a system that fully integrates air/sea/land operations. Derived from the popular titles "Chennault's First Fight" and "Operation Cartwheel" (both published by ATO), this game gives both sides difficult choices in facing their different challenges.

The Allies are spread thin and facing multiple routes by which the enemy can attack. They know the maxim that "those who defend everything defend nothing" but deciding what NOT to hold is difficult. You must make the Japanese pay for every gain...

The Japanese face an enemy already in control of much of the battlefield and fighting with their backs to the wall. They have a schedule crunch and must weigh to benefits of using high cost assets to gain objectives. The cost of success at too high a price is long term failure (and who will tell the Emperor?).

BOTH players can choose to increase their available forces, representing greater emphasis in overall planning. But the reinforcements come at a cost in victory points that could tip the scales to the enemy. Both sides are charged with using assets as effectively as possible. This is not an easy win for either side.

Forlorn Hopes, the 2012 Annual, delivers the extra size and contents you expect from ATO. Full color 22" x 34" map. 288 die-cut, full color large 5/8" counters provide players with the air, ground, and naval units which actually fought in the campaign, plus some which could have been there.

Bonus Game Inside!: After war broke out in 1939, throughout the remainder of the year the most pressing problem for the Allied navies was to hunt down and destroy the German surface raider, Graf Spee. This "pocket battleship" was too quick to catch by the heavy ships, and too powerful to engage by lighter forces alone...an enclosed mini-game with this issue, The Hunt for Graf Spee, shows how it was done.

Forlorn Hopes and the 2012 ATO Magazine Annual

Maps - One full color 22"x34" hex mapsheet
Counters - 288 full color 5/8" die-cut pieces
Rules length - 16 pages
Charts and tables - 4 pages
Complexity - Medium
How challenging is it solitaire? - Average
Playing time - 2 to 10 hours depending on the scenario

Design - Paul Rohrbaugh
Development - Lembit Tohver
Graphic Design - Mark Mahaffey

Product Prices (includes shipping)
SKU Back Issue Type Price Qty.
GA2012Z-US Ziplock USA $49.95
GA2012Z-IN Ziplock International $84.95

Like the topic, designer, or types of challenges in this game?
You may also be interested in these products:

Operation Cartwheel
Operation Cartwheel

12 - Chennault's First Fight
12 - Chennault's First Fight
 
Tell a friend:

2012 Annual - Forlorn Hopes
View Larger Image


See the map for this game.


Click the map to enlarge it.

Click here to view the contents spread below for this issue of Against the Odds Magazine!

Download the rules for Forlorn Hopes (in PDF format).

Download examples of play for Forlorn Hopes (in PDF format).

Download extra copies of the Damage and Plot Sheet for Hunt for the Graf Spee (in PDF format).

Read more about this game on Consimworld.

Read more about this game on BGG.

And, the publisher of this game recommends the books below if you would like to learn even more about this campaign: